Haas 1 Brendan Haas Mr.

Newman Rhetoric 101 8 November 2013

*Insert Creative Title* A creativity crisis is among us. At least that is what popular media is trying to persuade. It is no secret the world is a changing place; but what actually is changing is an ambiguous subject. Among the topics of pollution, education, politics, and world affairs, the world seems to be also worried about creativity. Some believe creativity is endangered because of the lack of time and space, the overwhelming influence of media and technology, and a different youth culture. Others think it is prosperous and only expanding. But, what both sides fail to realize is that there is a middle ground. Creativity is not dying or thriving, but transforming. Creativity will always be exhibited in humans but will likely change forms as the culture of humans change as well. The issue is heavily weighted on both sides with some very strong opinions. The extremes of each side, however, draw people away from the more balanced bias. It seems the more common opinion is that creativity is, in fact, dying. The more technology that is introduced and the more sheltered the youth seem to be, the more creativity is threatened. The reoccurring theme of creativity seems to coincide with the idea of children and youth. Susan Linn, author of The Case for Make Believe: Saving Play in a Commercialized World, seems to do just that. Linn states, Creativity our ability to invent, conjure, envision, think divergently, and change the status quo is essential to a thriving democracy and is rooted in childrens creative play. Then Linn goes on to talk about how childrens play is being limited. Children now-a-days are much different than their parents and grandparents were. Technological acceleration has put

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them into an age of computers, smartphones, and other gadgets. Linn is right, they dont have time to play, but they do have more creative outlets. The internet is both a dark and remarkable place. The fact of the matter is, that technology is an example of creativity in it of itself; and the fact that kids can access it from relatively anywhere is a sign of progress of creativity. Cecilia Conrad, vice president for the MacArthur Fellows program, says, Creativity flourishes at the intersections of traditional disciplines, but traditional means of assessment often marginalize individuals working to define new and unique fields of endeavor. The internet is a very good example of this quote. As stated before, the internet is not the best influence. There are many ways for kids to cheat and cut corners; and with social media, the influences of the juvenile are spread broad and often. Social Media like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram is this doubled edged sword. But as Richard Florida, author of Rise of the Creative Class Revisited, states, The big myth is that creativity is the province of individual geniuses. In fact, its a social process. The ideas of creativity being endangered is then reliant on a more personal opinion of youth. One might feel that the youth are a delinquent generation of no-good narcissists. While this may be true for certain kids, it can definitely not be said for all of them. There are plenty of over creatively adept kids who express themselve, possibly more than children who do the bare minimum, or just under it. The children of this generation may not be drawing, painting, and frolicking in the fields near their houses on the countryside, but are definitely still making their creative footprint with Youtube videos, Blogs, and Photoshop. The creativity, specifically of young people, is not endangered or rising, but just making a smooth transition into something no one has ever seen before. Creativity is not necessarily reliant on playing or the child demographic, however. Hard working adults can be just as creative, sometimes even more creative, than kids. Creativity

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can be put into anything, not just the arts. Media and technological creativity has been very prevalent. The same people claiming technology is ruining creativity are using the internet to rant about it, in a creative fashion at that. But, there can sometimes be a stunt to creativity in the workplace. Not all jobs require PowerPoints, extravagant speeches, innovative invention, or even creative art design. In fact, most would agree that a lot of jobs are just a lulling grind. Idris Mootee, author of Design Thinking for Strategic Innovation: What They Cant Teach You at Business or Design School., talks about managing practices evolving for repetitive tasks, productivity, and efficiency. Mootee argues about a change of creativity in the workplace and believes that not a lot of creativity is needed and states that it might even be inefficient. (Mootee). This is true in many cases, but the job pool is pretty diverse. Different jobs may have different responsibilities. Responsibility does not necessarily correlate with creativity, but Mootee inserts that managers today need creativity, as they deal with disruptive technologies and breakneck competition. Competition is often seen, but jobs that dont involve it still can have creative elements. Blue collar workers can exhibit creativity on their own digression, as well as business sharks. Of course, artists and janitors will not show the same amounts or level of creativity, but both can express it, and often do. Mootee seems to acknowledge this as well by saying, Creativity is not just about aha moments or interesting ways to look at things. Creativity is about putting empathy to work. Though it seems grim for creativity in the workplace, creativity is not threatened at all. Richard Louv also believes creativity is not endangered, but rather thinks that we could be entering one of the most creative periods in human history because of the different societal challenges we must confront (Louv). However, this is an absurd exaggeration. Creativity has been shown through all stages of man and is insulting to say that it is better now than ever. Creativity is not in decline or on the rise, it is just

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changing. Mr. Wootee puts it the best in his quote: Creativity is not about perfection. Creativity is a means to solve complicated problems. As problems persist creativity will coincide with them, and never fall out or increase rapidly. From the workplace to the playground, creativity is an awe inspiring force. This force, however, has been misinterpreted. Some think creativity will flourish with technology and new generations to come will be increasingly creative. Others feel creativity is practically extinct and will result in a poor environment for new generations. But, creativity will always persist and change to provide the world with answers to changing problems.

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Works Cited Conrad, Cecilia. "Our Society Discourages Innovation." Room For Debate. New York Times, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/09/15/iscreativity-endangered/our-society-discourages-innovation>. Florida, Richard. "Cities Are the Fonts of Creativty." Room for Debate. New York Times, n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/09/15/is-creativityendangered/cities-are-the-fonts-of-creativity>. Linn, Susan. "Marketing to Children Drowns Out Innovation." Room For Debate. New York Times, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/09/15/iscreativity-endangered/marketing-to-children-drowns-out-innovation>. Louv, Richard. "Environmental Challenges, Tomorrow's Progress." Room for Debate. New York Times, n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/09/15/iscreativity-endangered/environmental-challenges-invite-creativity>. Mootee, Idris. "Work Has Changed; Management Should." Room For Debate. New York Times, 15 Sept. 2013. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/09/15/is-creativity-endangered/managerscan-nurture-creativity>.